A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees. Children stroll, circle, hug and dodge the trees, warming up and finding their way among objects.
How to play
- Before starting, the teacher stands the poles upright in the cones, well spaced around the playground: these are the forest trees (1 min).
- Stroll through the forest without touching any tree, a little faster each time (1 min).
- On “Hug!”, each child finds a tree and walks one full circle around it, keeping a hand on it (1 min).
- Weave between the trees like a sneaky wind, and on “Storm!” crouch next to a tree for shelter (2 min).
- The sun comes out: stretch up tall like the poles and take a deep breath (1 min).
Rules
- Don't touch the trees while you walk, only when the teacher says “Hug!”.
- If a tree falls, two friends stand it back up carefully.
- The poles stay in the forest: we don't take them to play.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use a few widely spaced trees and only walk, hug and crouch.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add more trees and circle them both ways.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher ties colored ribbons on some poles and calls “Hug a tree with a red ribbon.”
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: space the trees wide enough for a wheelchair and let children circle the tree with an outstretched hand.
- Visual impairment: use fewer trees in regular rows; the child finds them by touch while walking with a buddy.
- Autism: preview the three cues (hug, storm, sun) with gestures and give a heads-up before the storm to avoid startling.
Learning goals
- Move around while dodging fixed obstacles.
- Turn around an object in both directions.
- Warm up gradually and playfully.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Plastic poles: 12
- Cones with pole holes: 12
Teacher tip
Use heavy or wide-based cones so the poles don't topple at the slightest bump. If you don't have cones with holes, agility blocks with pole holes work just as well.
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